Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 442

Chapter 442: ’Invite The Other Kingdoms?’

"I heard your tea time was successful."

Florian looked up at the familiar voice, his eyes settling on Heinz, who was now seated at the edge of the bed.

The room was dimly lit, soft candlelight dancing along the gilded walls. It had been hours since the tea with Scarlett and Athena ended—long enough for Florian to have bathed and slipped into his nightclothes.

Azure lay curled on his lap, already asleep, his small breaths steady and warm.

"It was, Your Majesty," Florian replied softly. "I’ve already asked them to host the ball and help prepare for it. I’ll be meeting with them daily to go over the details."

He gently scooped Azure into his arms, shifting carefully as he tucked himself beneath the thick duvet. The warmth of the bedding was a comfort, but it couldn’t chase away the strange, lingering awareness of the man nearby.

’I wonder how long he plans to keep me sleeping in his room...’ Florian mused silently, his gaze drifting toward Heinz’s back.

Heinz had clearly just come from bathing—his dark hair was still damp, droplets occasionally sliding down the nape of his neck. He was shirtless, clothed only in satin pants that shimmered faintly in the low light.

Florian tore his eyes away.

"And the guest list?" Heinz asked, his voice casual yet firm. "Have you decided who to invite?"

Florian hesitated.

"About that, Your Majesty..." he started, his tone careful.

Heinz turned then, facing him fully. His eyes—deep crimson and unblinking—fixed on Florian, as if peeling back layers he hadn’t offered.

Florian stiffened.

’Why is he looking at me like that?’ he thought, heart picking up speed. ’It’s strange...’

He couldn’t name it. Not yet. And maybe he didn’t want to.

Still, he had to ask.

"I was wondering..." Florian began again, more softly this time, "if we could also invite the other princesses’ families? Since we’re already inviting mine... it only feels right. I imagine the princesses miss their families just as much. I don’t think it would hurt, would it?"

For a long moment, Heinz said nothing.

Then his brows drew together, ever so slightly. "What brought this on?"

"Well..."

"His Majesty allowed it?" Scarlett asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and restrained hope.

Florian nodded. "He did."

"Oh... wow," Scarlett murmured, blinking. "That’s... that’s great."

"Good for you, Your Highness. That’s lovely news," Athena added softly with a polite smile.

Florian smiled back, or tried to—but something felt off.

Their tones were supportive, their words sincere enough... but there was a shift. Something muted in their expressions. T

he excitement that had lit up Scarlett’s face earlier was gone, and Athena’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Florian tilted his head slightly. "What’s wrong?"

"N-Nothing, it’s nothing, Your Highness," Athena said quickly, her voice a little too light, a little too rehearsed. "It’s nothing at all."

Florian’s frown deepened. He glanced toward Scarlett, who had gone uncharacteristically quiet.

"Scarlett?"

Scarlett hesitated, her gaze dropping to her lap. Her hands fidgeted slightly with the lace on her sleeve, and her voice, when it came, was quiet.

"I... I think I’m speaking for both of us. And honestly, probably for the rest of the others as well. But we... we’d also really like to see our families. Even just for one day."

Athena turned her head aside, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She didn’t add anything—but she didn’t deny it either.

"I-I mean," she said after a moment, "it’s your party, of course. I wouldn’t want to impose. But... I’m sure you understand why we’re... a bit envious."

Florian didn’t answer immediately.

Because yes, he did understand. Very well, in fact.

’They miss their families... and they’ve been trapped here, not even knowing why anymore. Unlike me... ’

He wasn’t really Florian. The original Florian’s family—the ones everyone here thought he missed—weren’t his to miss. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The only reason he even agreed to invite them was to find a way to reunite them with the real Florian, whenever that became possible.

But Scarlett, Athena, Mira, Bridgett, Camilla—all of them... they were real daughters, real sisters, real friends to people they hadn’t seen in months.

And they had no choice but to smile through it.

"I can ask His Majesty," Florian said suddenly, looking between them, "to invite all of your families too."

Both Scarlett and Athena’s eyes widened in perfect sync.

"Y-You don’t have to do that, Your Highness," Athena said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. "Really."

"Especially if it’s a burden," Scarlett added, visibly flustered. "We really... we don’t want you to do anything you don’t want."

Florian let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "It’s not a burden. Really, it’s not," he assured them, his tone light but earnest. "If anything, you both just gave me a really good idea."

"Idea?" Scarlett asked, curiosity flickering behind her eyes.

"I’ll tell you after I’ve spoken to His Majesty."

’He’s really sharp.’ Florian sighed inwardly.

It was what came after.

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